Turning a page: Longtime Seymour librarian retiring

As head of information services at the Jackson County Public Library in Seymour, Becky Brewer doesn’t consider any question out of the ordinary.

After 15 years on the job, she has heard it all. But being able to answer people’s questions and help them is what has made going to work so rewarding, she said.

Brewer, who will turn 70 next month, is retiring Dec. 16. The library has renamed the position head of adult services and has hired Julie Lingerfelt, an assistant librarian from Sapulpa, Oklahoma, for the job.

Although she will miss her daily interactions with staff and library patrons the most, Brewer said she doesn’t plan to sit at home and do nothing.

She already is working to establish a Stephen Ministry at Central Christian Church in Seymour, a volunteer effort that will allow her to continue helping people.

“It’s a caring ministry where the Stephen ministers learn to be lay ministers and help people in their congregations and the community meet their needs,” she said. “It’s a natural fit, and I feel called to do it.”

Brewer’s life always has revolved around helping others.

She was married to Dr. Mark Bevers, a local physician who passed away at the age of 47 in 1993. They had three children, Rachel, Sara and Hannah.

What many people don’t know is that while married to Mark, Becky also was planning a career in medicine and was studying premed in college. But it wasn’t feasible at that time for both her and her husband to go through medical school, she said.

So instead, she chose a different track and received a degree in social work. But she also worked in doctor’s offices.